The original contract with SLA was to perform a comprehensive workflow study of the state's liquor licensing process, in conjunction with AT&T. The State Liquor Authority, under the direction of Mike Drake, Chief Information Officer, is responsible for issuing wholesale and retail liquor licenses. It also is responsible for assuring compliance with state laws regarding the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages.

To begin the project, NewVision conducted extensive interviews with SLA employees throughout the state, identifying issues to be addressed and problems to be solved. The result was a recommendation to substantially restructure the organization and deploy advanced technology to streamline processes and cut costs.

NewVision was awarded the reengineering work that followed the study and totally revamped how work was done. NewVision implemented an imaging and workflow system using a relational database stored on an NCR server, replacing an IBM mainframe. The new system automated most of the functions that had been done by hand, which not only took considerable time but generated substantial amounts of paperwork.

“We have all our licenses, records and cases literally at our fingertips,“ Drake says. “We're providing the state, our investigators and our citizens fast access to all the facts they need, within seconds, not days. It's really transformed the department.“

Since implementation, NewVision has enhanced the system with a comprehensive Case Management System to support the SLA's Compliance Division.